Rider and mechanic go up in flames as motorbike catches fire during Isle of Man race

Dramatic footage from the Isle of Man TT motorcycle race has emerged showing the moment a rider’s bike caught fire – engulfing him and a mechanic in flames.

Grant Wagstaff, from Bedford, stopped to have his bike refuelled during the race but petrol was spilt onto the piping hot engine and exhaust, causing flames to blow up into the faces of Mr Wagstaff, 45, and his mechanical team.

Onlookers struggle to put out the fires on one of the mechanics, while the rider is sprayed with a fire extinguisher.

Remarkably, the team escaped serious injury, though the mechanic, whose identity is unknown, stayed in hospital overnight after suffering burns to his hands and face, said the MailOnline.

The 37-mile Isle of Man TT is widely-renowned as one of the hardest tracks in the world, with a mountain course that includes jumps, stone walls, telegraph poles and a long series of bends and bumps.

The race this year was certainly not without incident – rider Gary Johnson was involved a spectacular 120mph crash on Tuesday, in which he broke his collar bone and right shoulder.